Inspiration, Internships & More

A blog post inspired by Angela Fusco, designer at Balmain Paris.

Angela Fusco's lecture was immensely inspirational to me as I personally connected to many aspects and situations of her journey. Her journey from being a graduate and struggling to find a paid position in the fashion industry to climbing up the ladder to becoming a head designer at Balmain was heartening to hear and provided much-needed motivation to believe in myself and my abilities.

Angela's win at the Artsthread competition and her resulting internship at Levi's was an important jump-start to her illustrious career. She mentioned how she didn't expect to win at all, and that she was shocked when she was announced the winner. This underlines the importance of grabbing every opportunity out there and giving it an honest attempt, despite whatever odds we're at. It also made me realize that a great opportunity might come knocking at the door any second, in a way that's least expected and that patience and perseverance pays off over time.

The aspect of her professional journey that fascinated me the most was her role in the Innovation department at Levy's. Research, analytical thinking and creative problem solving being my strong forte, this is exactly the type of role I would thrive in.

There was a great deal of discussion regarding unpaid internships and work placement during the discussion session that followed the lecture. I am of the opinion that internships and work placement are incredibly valuable - be it paid or unpaid. A peek into how the industry actually works is a great way to start. These opportunities make the transition from being a student to becoming a professional smoother. They also provide space and time to perfect relevant skills required to thrive in a fast-paced work environment.

However, I do believe that it is possible to land a paid job role in this industry without having to intern, and Angela Fusco's reiteration of the same provides me with the confidence to seek the best of what's out there.